Osteospermum plant named &#39;KLEOE11193&#39;

ABSTRACT

An  osteospermum  variety named ‘KLEOE11193’ particularly distinguished by creamy white colored ray florets, brown-bronze colored disc florets of the corolla, a double flowering type and good branching habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEOE11193’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of osteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE11193’. The new variety originated from a controlled cross conducted in May 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya. The female parent was osteospermum plant named ‘08 300’ (unpatented), and the male parent was osteospermum plant named ‘08 145’ (unpatented). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and asexual propagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings in May 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings for three to four generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via vegetative cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety were applied for in the following countries: Switzerland on Jun. 28, 2011, the European Union on Jul. 7, 2011, and Canada on Jan. 18, 2012. ‘KLEOE11193’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Creamy white colored ray florets with brown-bronze colored         disc florets of the corolla;     -   2. Double flowering type; and     -   3. Good branching.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph was taken in spring 2011 on a 3-month old plant grown in a heated glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany, under conditions which approximate those generally used in normal horticultural practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEOE11193’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the spring of 2011 on 6-month old plants grown in 12 centimeter pots. The plants were grown in a heated glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany and pinched once at approximately 16 weeks old. Color readings were taken under natural and artificial light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification: -   Family: Asteraceae -   Botanical name: Osteospermum ecklonis Norl. -   Common name: African daisy -   Denomination: ‘KLEOE11193’ -   Parentage: -   Female parent: Osteospermum plant named ‘08 300’ (unpatented) -   Male parent: Osteospermum plant named ‘08 145’ (unpatented) -   Plant: -   Form and habit: Herbaceous perennial, usually cultivated as an     annual -   Growth habit: Vigorous -   Branching habit: Freely branching -   Height (from top of soil): 20.5 cm -   Width (including inflorescence): 21.0 cm -   Propagation: Vegetative cuttings from tips -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant: 14 to 16 weeks -   Time to initiate and develop roots: 3 to 4 weeks -   Root description: Freely rooting -   Leaves: -   Arrangement: Arranged in a whorl -   Shape: Lanceolate -   Apex: Acute -   Base: Acute -   Margin: Serrate -   Color:     -   -   Immature leaf.—Upper surface: RHS 137B Lower surface: RHS             137C.         -   Mature leaf.—Upper surface: RHS 137A Lower surface: RHS             137B. -   Length: 7.0 cm -   Width: 2.5 cm -   Texture: Leathery -   Petiole: Absent -   Stems: -   Total number of branches: 6 to 8 -   Length: 14.0 cm to 16.0 cm -   Diameter: 0.35 cm -   Internode length: 0.9 cm to 1.7 cm -   Color: RHS 137D -   Texture: Smooth -   Inflorescence buds: -   Shape: Obovate -   Length: 1.1 cm -   Diameter: 0.7 cm -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold): RHS 137A -   Inflorescence: -   Type: Single -   Blooming habit: Spring to autumn -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant: 9 to 11 -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant: 11 to 14 days -   Fragrance: Absent -   Inflorescence diameter: 4.5 cm to 5.3 cm -   Disc diameter: 3.2 cm to 3.5 cm -   Disc florets: -   Quantity per inflorescence: 60 to 100 -   Shape: Oblanceolate -   Tube color (both closed and mature): RHS 177C at the top and RHS 76B     at the bottom -   Length: 1.1 cm to 1.4 cm -   Diameter (at apex): 0.2 cm -   Apex: Obtuse -   Apex color: RHS 177C -   Base: Acute, fused into a tube -   Margin: Entire -   Ray florets: -   Quantity per inflorescence: 20 to 22 -   Shape: Oblanceolate -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface.—RHS 155B.         -   Lower surface.—RHS 177C. -   Length: 2.4 cm to 2.6 cm -   Width: 0.6 cm to 0.7 cm -   Apex: Obtuse -   Base: Acute -   Margin: Entire -   Texture (both surfaces): Smooth -   Peduncle: -   Length: 5.0 cm to 8.0 cm -   Diameter: 0.2 cm -   Texture: Rough -   Color: RHS 137D -   Phyllaries: -   Arrangement: Single -   Observed quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 25 -   Shape: Lanceolate -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface.—RHS 137A.         -   Lower surface.—RHS 137C. -   Length: 1.2 cm -   Width: 0.1 cm -   Apex: Acute -   Base: Obtuse -   Margin: Entire -   Texture: Rough -   Reproductive organs: -   Androecium:     -   -   Location.—Base of the disc floret corolla.         -   Stamens.—Quantity: Approximately 80 Shape: Filamentous             Color: RHS 202A Filament length: 0.45 cm Filament diameter:             0.08 cm.         -   Anther.—Shape: Elliptical Color: RHS 202A Length: 0.2 cm             Diameter: 0.08 cm.         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS 13A Amount: Sparse. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Location.—Base of the ray florets; stigmas in disc florets             are degenerated and non-functional.         -   Pistils.—Number: 22 Length: 0.38 cm Diameter: 0.04 cm.         -   Stigma.—Color: RHS N77A Shape: Bipartite Length: 0.2 cm             Diameter: 0.04 cm.         -   Style.—Color: RHS 76C Length: 0.18 cm Diameter: 0.03 cm             Shape: Filamentous. -   Fruit and seed set: Seed set was observed. -   Disease and insect/pest resistance: No specific observations were     made.

Comparison with Parental and Commercial Variety

‘KLEOE11193’ differs from the female parental osteospermum plant ‘08 300’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEOE11193’ has creamy white colored ray florets, brown-bronze colored disc florets of the corolla and a good branching habit, whereas ‘08 300’ has white colored ray florets, pink colored disc florets of the corolla, and a medium branching habit.

‘KLEOE11193’ differs from the male parental osteospermum plant ‘08 145’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEOE11193’ has uniformly enlarged disc florets of the corolla, whereas ‘08 145’ has normal size disc florets of the corolla. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE11193’ as shown and described herein. 